Video – Coast Guard medevacs 2 boaters from oil barge

TAMPA, Fla. – A Coast Guard helicopter rescue crew from Air Station Clearwater, Fla., air lifted two crewmembers from the 603-foot ocean-going tug and oil-barge Valiant, after they sustained serious burns from an explosion, 180-miles west of Naples, Fla., at approximately 6 a.m. Saturday.
Injured are Ronald Freitas, 55 and Adam Sparr, 25.

Watchstanders from the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Fla., operations center received a distress call from the Valiant at about 4 a.m., reporting that an explosion occurred onboard. The Valiant stated that two crewmembers suffered serious burns following the explosion and required emergency medical attention.